Gideon grabs the packet, half eaten already, and her own tea, and brings it around the counter and back into her sitting room, waiting for Pal to follow her. She sets tea and biscuits down on the low table and then folds herself onto the sofa, pulling her legs up and crossing them in front of her.

"I know that," she says. "But...I gave her my whole life. I hope that, somewhere, she's making the fucking best of it."